The Delhi High Court issued notice to NDTV and its CEO-editor Rahul Kanwal in a defamation suit filed by businessman Anil Ambani over reports concerning Reliance ADA Group-linked investigations. Justice Subramonium Prasad sought responses from the media network and fixed July 18 for the next hearing in the high-profile defamation matter involving CBI and ED-related reporting
The Delhi High Court issued notice to NDTV and its CEO and Editor-in-Chief Rahul Kanwal in a defamation suit filed by businessman Anil Ambani over the channel’s reporting on investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate concerning companies linked to the Reliance ADA Group.
The matter came up before Justice Subramonium Prasad, who sought responses from the media network and scheduled the case for further hearing on July 18. The Court was hearing Ambani’s plea seeking an interim injunction against the publication of what he described as defamatory reports concerning ongoing criminal and financial investigations involving Reliance group entities.
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Ambani, through his counsel, argued that the majority ownership of NDTV by the Adani Group was relevant to the dispute. According to the suit, the media coverage formed part of a sustained campaign allegedly intended to damage his reputation and weaken the business interests of the Reliance ADA Group. Ambani claimed that nearly 72 targeted articles had been published against him in recent months.
The suit states,
“The Plaintiff states that the ultimate owners of Defendant Nos. 1 – 3 (NDTV, NDTV Convergence and IANS) have launched a deliberate, targeted, and relentless smear campaign against the Plaintiff, so as to derive unjust gains by injuring the Plaintiff’s reputation, goodwill, and well-being, as well as the reputation and goodwill of the Reliance ADA Group,”
The suit further alleged that the publications were aimed at influencing market perception and creating panic among investors. Ambani contended that the reporting attempted to directly link him personally with actions involving Reliance companies, despite the proceedings being against corporate entities and certain officials associated with them.
Appearing for Ambani, advocate Shri Venkatesh argued before the Court that NDTV repeatedly used Ambani’s name in headlines whenever any individual connected to Reliance-related investigations was arrested.
He submitted,
“There have been 72 pointed publications against me. Every time a person is arrested… I am distinct from the entity Reliance, and the persons being arrested belong to that entity,”
During the hearing, Ambani’s counsel referred to an NDTV report allegedly stating that assets worth Rs 1,400 crore belonging to Ambani had been attached, although the proceedings were against a Reliance company. The counsel argued that the case is against Reliance and the headline says Ambani.
Another report published by NDTV Profit was also cited before the Court. According to Ambani, the report inaccurately suggested that he had been restrained from travelling abroad.
The counsel submitted,
“I had given an undertaking… This kind of mischaracterisation has to stop,”
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Justice Prasad, however, indicated that since the matter involved issues concerning freedom of speech and media reporting protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, the Court would first hear the media organisations before considering any interim restraint order.
The judge observed,
“Article 19(1)(a)… I have passed orders like that injunction, but not on the first date. I have had at least 8 hearings,”
The suit, filed through advocate Hasan Murtaza, seeks damages exceeding Rs 2 crore. Ambani informed the Court that any compensation awarded would be donated to charity. Apart from NDTV and Rahul Kanwal, the suit also names IANS, NDTV Managing Editor Manoranjan Bharti, NDTV Profit Managing Editor Tamanna Inamdar and IANS Editor Ashish Manchanda as defendants.
The legal battle emerges amid continuing investigations by the CBI and ED into financial transactions and alleged irregularities involving several companies connected with the Reliance ADA Group. The proceedings against the media house are likely to raise wider questions concerning corporate reputation, journalistic freedom, and the limits of reportage relating to ongoing investigations.
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